The Arizona sentinel., 1887-03-05
ENGLAND'S STRONGHOLD.
Life in the Great Fortress of
 Gibraltar.
Galleries in the Rock and Their Uses-The Line Dividing England From Span ish SOil-'NOrth Front"
 and Its Doings.

The rock of Gibraltar is pierced toward its southern part, at HOO feet above the level of the sea, with numer- ous excavations that form a complete network of natural galleries so pro- found and intricate that, though they have often been explored, the extrem- ity of them has never been discovered. From place to place these galleries broaden out into vast halls, the vaults of which, supported by natural pillars, are formed of stalactites that throw out a thousand rays at the least light. The best known and the most accessi- ble-the Grotto of St. Michael reached by an almost imperceptible entrance, and which, few feet from its opening, forms an immense hall 220 feet long and 66 feet high, is the place often chosen by the authorities of Gib- raltar when they wish to honor a dis tinguished guest, to offer him lun- cheon, dinner, or fete.
 To this network of natural galleries, which at certain places serve for am munitiOn magazines, the English at the north flank of the rock. which forms a perpendicular wall 1,500 feet high, have joinesi the two celebrated artiti- cial galleries hollowed out by convicts during the siege of 17SO, which, one above the other, shelter the most famous batteries in the world. From military view, however, these batteries have lost much of their value since the recent progress in modern artillery. Guns of the largest caliber can not be used because of the severe shock given by the detonation to this part of the rock. A few years ago, while one of the batteries was firing salute during a strong wind-storm, burning piece of tow was blown into the interior. which ignited caisson of ammunition, the explosion of which blew the gun and the artillerymen out through the em- brasure. Since that time these batteries are used with great precaution. They remain the principal attraction at Gibraltar, the great object of interest for tourists. The upper gallery, where all the batteries are covered, is easily visited, but with permit from the military authority and under the con- duct of an artilleryman. The interior gallery, where most of the batteries are uncovered, is less accessible to the public. To enter it a special permit is necessary from the Governor, which is obtained only in very exceptional cases.
 The narrow tongue of land that unites Gibraltar to Spain is about HOO yards wide by 2,2OO yards long. It is a plain of sand, destitute of vegeta- ton, save few aloe trees. It is divid- ed in its length into two nearly equal parts. The one that adjoins the rock belongs to the English, who call it the North front" This is where the reviews take place, the exercises of the garrison, the horse races; and here, too, is the cemetery and the abattoir where are slaughtered the meager Morocco cattle eaten by the inmates of the fortress. A line of English senti- nels, posted 150 feet apart and easily | recognized at a distance by the white l umbrellas fixed in the sand, under which they shelter themselves from the | sun, indicates the limits of English soil. | From that point to the Spanish frontier | it is neutral ground, on which no one, not even a civilian, is permitted to set | foot. At its other extremity a line of | intrenchments fallen into ruin marks | the Spanish line. It is guarded by a | cordon of sentinels, and day and night | the English and Spanish soldiers, sepa- rated by distance of 1,500 feet pace | back and forth, eYeing each other as sharply as if their countries were at war.
 During the day the North front is the liveliest place in Gibraltar, for in the city, hung like ladder against the western side of the rock, there are no | level surfaces. All the exercises dear to the English, like polo, tennis, and cricket, can find the necessary space only in this exterior field From morn ing till night this plain, then, is the theater of all English activity. | The spectacle, on the Queens birth day especially, is always imposing. In the afternoon of this day the 1000 men composing the garrison leave the city to be reviewed on the North front At two O clock the Governor departs at- tended by his staff A platoon pre- cedes him comprising twenty officers in l